Manitobans support effort to raise people from poverty: poll

In this file photo a homeless man passes his time near Siloam Mission. A poll shows most Manitobans support government intervention raising people from poverty. Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun filesKevin King / Kevin King/Winnipeg Sun

Most Manitobans support a provincial government investment to raise people out of poverty, when told that effort could reduce the cost of health-care, justice and other provincial services, a new survey found.

But only a small fraction of those surveyed were willing to pay a hefty tax hike to ensure the 150,000 Manitobans who live below the poverty line no longer do.

A Probe Research poll released Wednesday found 59% of those surveyed would support the province spending $670 million a year to raise all Manitobans out of poverty, while 36% opposed the idea and 7% weren’t sure.

Michael Barkman, chair of Make Poverty History Manitoba, said the poll results show poverty reduction is a priority for most Manitobans.

“We see that number as really encouraging … I think (almost) 60% is a strong majority of Manitobans that support a poverty reduction plan,” said Barkman, whose organization commissioned the survey.

But only 6% of those surveyed agreed a tax increase that would cost the average taxpayer about $700 more each year is the best way to eliminate poverty. The survey found 34% preferred re-allocating other government spending to fund the change and 32% said it shouldn’t be done at all.

“There’s still some uncertainty about how we’re going to pay for this but … there is support for strong actions to reduce poverty,” said Barkman.

Make Poverty History is lobbying the province to create a “livable basic needs benefit” that ensures all Manitobans have a total income that equals or exceeds the poverty line. Under their proposal, all low-income Manitobans would be eligible for that new support, which would replace the employment and income assistance basic needs benefit. That would also be topped up by other low-income and EIA supports.

In an email, Fielding wrote that a provincial poverty reduction strategy will be released sometime this year, which will include set reduction targets.

His statement said the strategy will focus on employment and federal-provincial affordable housing investments, not tax hikes, to achieve its goals.

“Manitobans don’t need a bigger tax burden … Our focus is on social innovation and moving from employment and income assistance into jobs and training,” wrote Fielding.

Probe Research’s landline and wireless phone survey of 1,000 Manitoba adults was taken between March 12 and 29, 2018. The random sample is considered accurate within ± 3.1 percentage points, with 95% certainty.

Survey says

Here’s how Manitobans answered the following poverty-related questions from Probe Research

Question: There are about 150,000 people in Manitoba living below the official poverty line. Some organizations say the provincial government should increase funding to those on welfare and the working poor so that no Manitoban lives below the poverty line. Doing this may save the province money over the long-term in areas like health care, justice and child and family services. But it would cost the provincial government about $670 million a year initially, which is about 4% of the province’s annual budget. Knowing this, do you support or oppose the provincial government providing this increased assistance to raise all Manitobans above the poverty line?

Strongly support: 28%

Moderately support: 31%

Total who support: 59%

Moderately oppose: 18%

Strongly oppose: 18%

Total who oppose: 36%

Unsure: 7%

Question: If the province spent $670 million a year to raise all Manitobans above the poverty level, there are different ways to pay for this. In your view, what would be the best way?

Re-allocate money from government spending in other areas: 34%

A tax increase, on average, of $700 per taxpayer: 6%

Add to the deficit and debt: 3%

A combination of these options: 25%

None of the above – I do not believe this should be done: 32%

Question: Let’s imagine the provincial government was considering a tax increase to fund some or all of the $670 million needed to raise everyone above the poverty line. As we mentioned, this would amount to about $700 more per taxpayer. You personally may pay more or less than this, depending on your income. With this in mind, how much more, if anything, are you personally willing to pay annually in taxes to reduce poverty?

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